What Does A "Real" Follower of Christ Look Like?....... We look like RSB's

Last night Jim and I watched a TV program about Adolf Hitler and the devilish power he gained over a nation of people, causing them to attempt to destroy the Jews, the sick, the lame, the mentally unstable -- and anyone else who wouldn't fall in line with his plan for the world. People followed Hitler out of selfish desires, devotion to a cause, fear, coercion, etc. I went to bed shaking my head at the weakness of the human condition.  Instead of thinking," Those stupid people," I thought, "People are so stupid."

When Jesus came to minister on Earth, he spoke to people just like you and me. Some of them were looking for a rescue from their "humanness" and its disastrous results. Others were happily living their selfish lives with selfish motives. Some had tried righteousness and sacrifice; some had practiced following teachers, but all were subject to the same human condition of selfishness. They were all Unredeemed Selfish Brats.

Jesus' conversation with people of his day went like this, 'None of this stuff you are trying will work. The only thing that will work is what I am about to do for you. I am about to give my body, my blood -- my life so that you can be reunited with my Father. And unless you receive me and the truth of my death and promised (and fulfilled) resurrection, you will be  subject to the rules of the World, now and forever. Period!' (I am obviously using my words, here.)

Whether you believe it or not, Jesus' life, death and resurrection are documented, historical facts.  Just like Hitler's speeches,  his reign over Germany and his ultimate demise are historical facts.  But look at the difference!  One man was a selfish, megalomaniac imposing his ideas and ideals on people; while the other gave up his right to rule over us and instead paid with his life for every selfish act that anyone who ever lived has done or will do.  Did you know that is where the phrase 'once and for all' came from?

One man exacted a price and destroyed anything blocking his path; the other paid a price and saved anyone who would follow his way. 'Take up my cross and follow me.'

I realize this is offensive -- even ridiculous -- to people like you and like me. It is offensive to realize that we are selfish, rude beings and that we can't fix ourselves. But it is true and you and I know it. And the only difference between a redeemed selfish brat (RSB) and an un-redeemed one (USB) -- is death.

Yes, death. The redeemed selfish brat is dead, yet living free; the unredeemed selfish brat is living, but in a deadly prison.

Oh, you are still reading?

When Christ opened my heart to his redeeming love, I, that is my "self," died. Now, I have the option of climbing back into my selfishness, or LIVING a new life, following the example of LOVE that my redeemer set for me. Unlike the Un-redeemed Selfish Brat, USB, I have been  forgiven all my errors (made and yet unmade) and I've been given new tools to work in the new soil to produce a crop worthy of  Jesus' example of sacrifice. But, like all RSB's (Redeemed Selfish Brats) I fail constantly. That's why it is so hard to tell the two apart. (Just in case you've been wondering.)

When Adolf Hitler came to rule in Germany, he was speaking to people just like you and me. Some of them were looking for a rescue from their "humanness" and its disastrous results.  Others were happily living their selfish lives with selfish motives. Some had tried righteousness and sacrifice; some had practiced following teachers, but all were subject to the same human condition of selfishness. Does that sound familiar?  It should.

My point is that people are people.  In our natural state, we will follow whatever feeds our USBness. God leaves the choice to us, sort of.  He does not coerce, plead, bribe or bully people into being RSBs. This is how he does it, he uses people like me, people who know they are only RSB's, to tell others about his plan and his solution to their problems. This is the plan: admit that you are a selfish brat, stuck in a world with others just like you, Understand that God offered you a way out at his own expense. At this point you die,you are released, then you live again to tell about it. It is really that simple...not easy...simple.

Hitler is dead.  Jesus lives.  Rebecca Neville is dead, Becky lives to tell about it -- in Jesus. Done.

If you are a USB, and you know who you are, you have an invitation to accept your "release papers." I received my papers about 30 years ago. You might be interested to know that I never met the person who told me how to become a RSB.  Her name was Corrie Ten Boom. She was the only one from her Dutch Christian family to survive Hitler's reign. Corrie went to prison for hiding Jews in a secret room of her home, a Hiding Place.

After much suffering, and more than a few answers to prayer, she was given a "Certificate of Discharge," to get out of Ravensbruck, one of Hitler's death camps. It was the only way to get out of there alive. And God arranged it because he knew Corrie would spend the rest of her life, another thirty years, telling others about the Hiding Place that people have in Jesus and how to get out of the death camp they are in.

The kind of certificate that gets us out of here is the one that Jesus offers; it is the one that is stamped upon my heart -- RELEASED. Some day I will tell Corrie how much I appreciated her book. Whether you are a USB or a RSB, I encourage you to read  it: The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom.

What does a "real" follower of Christ look like? "Entlassen," --  Released!

Create Away!

The third week of the Trek of Trust has me thinking about "time" in relation to God.

Many years ago, one of my young children was perplexed by concepts like God's foreknowledge, and God's "plan" VS our freewill; she also wanted to know, "Who created God?"   When pondering how to answer her,  I realized that God CREATED TIME, as well as everything else.  He lives outside of time.  Time is within the confines of his creation;  it is for us, like Earth is for us, and air, water, and fire.  Sun, moon and stars, height, breadth ,depth and space are all within creation's realm and all are subject to time.

I think many perplexities can be answered by this understanding.

We live our lives on Earth, subject to the" rules" of creation and the reality of corruption.  We exist moment by moment, while God sees the entirety of time -- beginning to end.  He saw all of our moments before one of them was lived.  He knows how the story turns out before it is experienced. (I believe this is one reason we do not see him " intervene" as we would like.) We experience suffering, love, joy, rest, peace, fear, hope -- all these are subject to his "rules," his artistic and divine organization.

Death, too, is one of the "rules" to which we must submit.  But is death the end of us?  As long as people have existed, they have wondered what happens after life is over.  And few have experienced it and have lived to report back to the living.  Many who have faced the end have told of seeing their life in a flash.  Isn't that interesting?  If we saw our lives in a flash, we would see how the things we are worrying about work out.  We would see the cause and effect of our decisions -- we would see as God sees.  Perhaps, we would relax about some things and change others. 

The Bible reports that Lazarus found out.  So did Jesus.

I believe the testimony of those who came close to the end of life, and those who died and came back demonstrates that when our physical life ends...we do see.  Time as we knew it ends, which means we go on.  But what do we see next?

There are those who do not believe there is a creator.  Their belief, I think, is that the time of our lives is subject to rules that came together because they worked.  Billions of years of trial and error, and success of certain elements, brought the organization and interdependence of all into being.  I used to think that too.

But there is much to be explained with that viewpoint as well. There is the fossilized  tree that stands upright in the strata of rock, and "the chicken and the egg," too!  There is still a life to be lived and a death to be experienced.

And then what?

Both viewpoints require tremendous faith! One in a loving and all-wise creator who lives outside of time; the other in random success of what came into being out of nothing.  For the one who does not believe in God, it stands to reason that she must live for self, and self-preservation is paramount.  Even giving and loving has a selfish motive underlying.  A person with no God must be her own creator, or must create another god.  And if she doesn't serve self, she is foolish...she limits the success of the fittest.  It wastes time. 

TIME as a creation of the Creator answers a lot of questions -- even the question of the age of things and how long they took to come into being. Either way we look at life, time is a reality we see and to which we are subject. Then, believe in God or not, our time on Earth ends.  How should that time be spent is the question.  Subsisting?  Serving?  Working? Loving? --  Who decides? 

For me, time is spent being a creation in progress.  I am the painting, the sculpture, the building, the landscape, the pot in the hands of the potter.  I do not know the purpose or reason for every moment lived, but my creator does.  I do not know my end, but he does.  He saw it before I began.  Ahhh, peace.!  I don't have to be the god of my life!

Either way one believes, each moment, each day we live -- the time of our lives is subject to something -- purpose, selfishness, or randomness.  I choose to believe in and be subject to the King of Creation. (It has always been difficult for me to admit that my life is for God's glory, that every decision is not in my hands.  But thinking in terms of a creator, it is easier to understand and appreciate.)  I am paint, clay, flesh in His care.  This brings peace, rather than striving; hope rather than fear.

Come what may.  I will trust you, Father.  You are a great artist!  Your creation is beautiful.  Create what brings you glory.  I'm looking up.  I'm looking at you. My time is in your hands.  Create away!

Opportunity to Take a Trust Trek / The Plan

I am thinking that August will bring many opportunities to trust.  So I am planning a Trust Trek.

I love home and home-based things, like family, decorating, gardening and now raising chickens.  I also love being safe.  And home is safe.  Anyone who knows me well, knows I'm a homebody, and might be surprised that I'm planning a journey.
But there are threats to life everywhere, even at home.  (There is that asteroid that my brother says could be heading my way! Thanks Jeffrey!)

I have been passing on a nugget of truth to my peeps and now it is time for me to listen to my own truth and put it to the test.  Here it is:

OUR WEAKNESSES ARE MISAPPLIED STRENGTHS.

What are your weaknesses?  Think about the opposite to each one to find a strength you are not applying correctly.

My greatest weakness is fear.  I don't fear everything, I fear threats to my safety: physical, emotional, financial. Why?  Because too often I think I am in control.  Why? Because I think I am safe with me in control;  I'm a good, wholesome control-freak with personal integrity; I'm smart, and tenacious...  Ahh, but that's where I let myself down...I'm not good at everything; I don't have all the answers; and sometimes I don't even like me. ( Interestingly, I'm not afraid of spiritual threats, because I KNOW I'm not in control of that battle!)

If I apply my own truth, that means my biggest problem is that I am misapplying great faith in God's path for my life and his ability to be my present and faithful guide.   OOPS!  Did I just go my own way and get lost!

" Where are you, Father?
Right where I left you?
Okay here I come!
I'm on my way back through the woods to your side...
How long have I been gone this time?"

So I plan to take an open trek of trust this August.  On my journey, I will combat every threat to my "safety" with faith in God.  And I plan to hold myself accountable to share the details here. 

I hope you check on me to see how it goes.  I have a good teacher. 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not upon your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6

"I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

But I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing us of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

But I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

But I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.
I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

Refrain: today's language

I know in whom I believe and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've
committed unto him against that day"

Words: Dan­i­el W. Whit­tle, in Gos­pel Hymns No. 4, 1883.
Music: James Mc­Gran­a­han (MI­DI, score).

Who wins -- God or Baal?

Today I sought instruction and encouragement from God regarding our business situation.  Ours is the same story as millions of others across our great country: higher costs, fewer customers --a  threatened desire to thrive, stay in business, grow, and bless employees and clients.

But since I have access to the Chief Operating Officer of Creation, I sought his advice.  Again.

His advice was the same. Again.

"Trust me." 

A number of  times he has pointed me to Deuteronomy, chapter 8.  This is a passage reminding Israel that He led them in the desert for 40 years in order to humble them and test them, causing them to hunger and then feeding them with manna... a previously unfamiliar food...to teach them that "man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord;"  to discipline them as a father disciplines his son.  He cautions them to remember when things are good, when food is plenty, when all they have is multiplied -- NOT to think that it was because of their power, righteousness or integrity:  "But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.  He goes on to warn them not to forget the Lord and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, or they will be destroyed.

When I read this passage I am reminded that God is in control, he is the provider, he is to be worshipped alone, and that there is more to life than "bread," earthly sustenance.  It is both comforting and humbling to realise that God is in control.  It takes pressure off of me to make things happen in my own strength and way.  However much I want things to go "well", they will go as He determines;  and this requires humble surrender to His will.

Back to the question:  what do I do in this business environment, Lord? 

Answer:
 I am your shepherd. Psalm 23:1        "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8   "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  2 Corinthians 12:8

This advice is opposite the advice the world gives.  The world says strive, climb to the top of the heap, be the best you can be.  The struggle I have is to choose to listen to the advice of the one who holds my times in his hands, or to do it myself, or worse, to rely on and worship false sources of comfort and gain.  The draw to follow other advice is ever present, and when the pain of it all nags for relief, it is tempting to try to make it go away.  But I am powerless when God does not give power.

Today, when I asked for guidance, he led me to another passage.  It is the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal.  1 Kings 18.  In a standoff between Elijah and King Ahab, Elijah instructs Ahab to assemble 450 of the prophets of the false god, Baal.  Elijah says to the people, " How long will you waver (dance) between two opinions?  If the Lord is God, follow him."  Then Elijah gives the people a chance to see God's power.  He challenges the prophets of Baal to offer a sacrifice and call down fire to consume it.    The prophets call out from morning till noon, dancing around the altar they made, but nothing happens.  Elijah taunts them to shout louder, and they do...they also wound themselves in extreme devotion, and rise to a frenzy but nothing happens. The false god is powerless.

So Elijah repairs an altar of the Lord that was in ruins, digs a trench around it and instructs the people to pour water on the wood, then he tells them to do it again,  and a third time until the water runs down to fill the trench.  He then  prays for God to answer him so that the people will know who has the power and that God  is turning their hearts back again."

"Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood , the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.  When the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ' " The LORD -- he is God!  The LORD -- he is God!" '

False gods, false hope, false dreams come to nothing but pain.  Only God, the LORD, the King of the redeemed heart can bring, fire to consume a drenched sacrifice, water in drought, answers to the seeking believer, and to the struggling business owner in 2010. 

"If the Lord is God, follow him." 

 The LORD -- he is God!  The LORD -- he is God!" '

"Thank you, Father, for your advice and discipline.  Cause my heart to turn ever in your direction.  I sacrifice my will to your perfect , loving plan." Amen

Love,
Your Daughter